Bow trigger mechanism



NOV. 22, 1949 C, H KONOLD 2,488,597

BOW TRIGGER MECHANI SM Filed April 1, 194e Patented Nov. 212, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BOW TRIGGER MECHANISM Clyde H. Konold, Magna, Utah Application April 1, 1946, Serial No. 658,715

8 Claims.

This invention relates to ay bow trigger mechanism for use in the sport of archery.

Among the principal objects of the invention are to provide:

A(or) A mechanism in which an archer may securely and conveniently lock an arrow and then stress the bow string, nally causing the :arrow to be discharged without danger of injury to the archers fingers.

(b) A mechanism that is simple, durable and not liable to get out of order.

(c) A mechanism in which the working parts are largely concealed though easily accessible when necessary.

(d) An embodiment that is neat and streamlined in appearance.

In the drawing, which illustrates one embodiment of the invention,

Fig. l represents a plan;

Fig. 2, a side elevation;

Fig. 3, an end elevation looking in the direction of the arrow 3, parts in the background being omitted;

Fig. 4, a transverse section taken on the line 4-4 in Fig. 1, parts in the background being omitted;

Fig. 5, a plan, partially in horizontal section taken on the line 5-5 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 6, a plan, partially in horizontal section taken on the line 6-6 in Fig. 2, reflected from a mirror plane;

Fig. '7, a transverse section taken on the line 'l-l in Fig. 5; and,

Fig. 8, a side elevation showing the device in the hand of a user with an arrow in readiness to be disch-arged.

Referring to the drawing, the numerals I and II respectively indicate two lever members that are connected together scissor fashion, in this instance by a pivot bolt I2. Each of the lever members extends along substantially a straight line and has at one end a gripper jaw I3, and at the other end a locking jaw I4. Thus the two levers are in close adjacency relatively to each other, .which makes possible the compact arrangement that facilitates the novel interlocking thereof, and at the same time provides for novel breaking of the interlock by means of a trigger handle presently to be described.

Between the two levers I0 and VII in the plane of the scissor action is a compression primary spring I that exerts its tension to normally hold the grippers I3 in an open position such as is illustrated in Fig. 6. The open position of the grippers however, is possible only when the locking jaws I4 are in a substantially closed position as indicated for illustration in Fig. 6. The closing of the jaws I4 is controlled by the positioning of a pawl I6 that forms an integral head on a. stem I1, the latter being manipulated by means of a trigger or handle I8 threaded thereon. Adjacent the handle I8 is an adjusting nut I9 against which bears a secondary compression spring disposed in a sleeve extension 2l of a housing 22. In this instance the handle I8 acts as a lock nut bearing against the adjusting nut I9, but if desired, the handle can bear directly against the spring 20.

The housing 22 is advantageously provided with ngenholding elements such as rings 23, in which a users fingers are inserted somewhat after the manner illustrated in Fig. 8.

The operation of the parts so far described, is as follows:

When the grippers I3, Fig. 6, are closed by squeezing them together counter to the tension of primary spring I5, the leverage causes the jaws it to open. This allows the pawl I6 to be snapped into the open jaws, so that these bite upon the upper and lower surfaces of the pawl and clamp the latter in place. In this position, the trigger mechanism, including pawl I6, stem I1 and handle i8, may be said to be cocked under control of secondary spring 26. Pushing the trigger I8 instantly releases the pawl, thus opening the grippers I3 and closing the jaws I4.

In operation, assuming that an arrow 24 has been suitably positioned in the open grippers I3 oi Fig. 6 so that the slotted end 25 of the arrow is brought into engagement with the bow string 26, Fig. l, and assuming further that the user (not shown) is tensioning the bowstring as indicated in Fig. 8, the arrow is in readiness to be conveniently sent on its course. This results as soon as the users ingers 21 and 28 engaging the rings 23, Fig. 8, are drawn inwardly toward the fleshy part 29 of the hand 30, whereby the spring 20 is compressed andthe pawlV I6 is pushed back into the position where the tension of the spring I5 is exerted to close the jaws I4, that is to say, to cause them to be snapped back into the position of'Fi'g. 6.

In order that the end portion of the arrow may be held securely and yet may slip easily through the grippers I3, the latter lare each provided with one ormore inwardly curved, flexing iingers 3| that are in longitudinal alignment with the respective lever arms and grippers. The rear portions of the spring fingers 3| are anchored in the respective jaws as indicated at 32, while the forward ends of the lingers are free to move along the inside surf-aces of the respective jaws.

Other details of the mechanism of the invention, as shown in the present instance, will now be described. To facilitate the cooperative action of the interconnected lever members I0 and II, the latter, in the region of the pivotal connection, are advantageously provided with the respective, oppositely extending lugs 33 andr 34 that are mutually shrouded for security and that amata? The spring I5! is' held. centeredy by meansA of' studs 36 projecting inwardly from the respective arms I and I I, while the jaws I4, in the open position indicated in Fig. 5, are accommodated;

in the overlapping portion 38 of the. housing 2-2. Furthermore, the jaws I4 are recessed at 31, advantageously in a reversed D-configurationwhich accommodates closely the similarly congurated.

paw1 I S when the latter is in the position of Fig. 6. to accommodate the pin'- I 'I when the jaws mutually close thereover to reach the. position indicated in Fig. 6.

For the purpose of insuring durability and minimizing the wearing effect of rubbing against a bowstring, thegrippers I3A are each provided with wear-resisting inserts 40, these being made of suitable material, such as agate.

The recess 31 is located along the respective pairs or sets of forwardly facing,.stepped abutment surfaces 4I and 42 spaced apart as shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

The abutment surfaces 4I oppose the spring urge upon paw1 I when the locking jaws I4 are in mutual alignment rearwardly of the open grippers I3 as in Fig. 6. Similarly, the abutment sui-laces 42 oppose the spring urge upon paw1 I6 aiter the grippers have been moved together and the lockingA jaws spread apart, as in Fig. 5.

Thus, in Fig. 6 the paw1 I6. is under the urge of secondary spring 20 ready to be snapped into interlocked engagement with abutments l2 as soon as locking jaws I4 have been sufficiently spread apart. Again, in Fig. 5 the paw1 I6 is in readiness to break the interlock as soon as handle I8 is given a push. This causes primary Spring I' to move grippers I3 apart.

It is to be observed that the abutments 4I' and 32, together with adjacent portions of the locking jaws, actually form respective notches in which the paw1 is alternatively seated.

While details that are more or less specic are necessarily described herein by way of illustration, no limitations are thereby imposed other than those set forth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A bow trigger mechanism, comprising two lever elements in pivoted' scissor-likeV alignment throughout the length thereof; cooperative gripper jaws at the'forward end of said pivoted ele.- ments; cooperative locking jaws having abutment means at the rearward end of the pivoted elements; primary spring means operableto open the gripper jaws; paw1 means positionable for engagement by said abutment vmeans counter to the tension of said primary spring means; and a.

trigger movable longitudinally of said lever elements to release the paw1 means from said engagement.

2. A bow trigger mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the. abutment means consists of' two mutually spaced apart setsV of transverselystepped abutment surfaces facing forwardly.; wherein the paw1 means alternately engages one set of said transversely stepped abutment surfaces and then the other, or v-ice versa; andwherein is included spring means that exerts its tension to hold the paw1 means in contact with either set, as the case may be, of the said forwardly facing, transversely stepped abutment.

surfaces.

Also, the jaws I4 are channeled.l at139l 3. A bow trigger mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said abutment means consists of transversely opposed, recessed portions that t0- gether, when the locking jaws are closed, constitute a D-conigurated' recess; and wherein said paw1 meansincludes a D-shaped pawldisposed to be moved into said recess by means of said trigger.

4. A bow trigger mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the two pivoted elements have apertured; mutually extending, opposing lugs nested side. by side in mutually shrouded relation so that the respective apertures thereof are in axial alignment; a bushing extending through said apertures and having the ends thereof flush with the.` outside of the respective lugs; a housing holding said bushing in place; and pin means extendingthrough the housing to hold theassembly operatively together.

5. A bowtrigger. mechanism according to claim l, whereinare included wear-resisting inserts extending transversely of the gripper jaws so as.

toforma seat for a bowstring that is passed between said jaws.

6. Aibow trigger mechanismaccording to claim 1, wherein are inciuded springs inside the gripper` jaws, thesprings. being compressible to hold an arrow frictionally inv said jaws when closed, said springs being anchored at one end thereof, the other end of the springs being free.

'7. A bow trigger mechanism, comprising two pivotally mounted, mutually separable grippers; a yielding tensioned member, normally holding the grippers apart; a pair of locking jaws extending in close mutual alignment rearwardly of the grippers and having mutually opposing abutment portions spaced transversely of said alignment; pawl'means movable longitudinally into engagement with the spread apart locking jaws; spring means tending. to urge said paw1 means against said abutment portions thereby interlocking said locking jaws for the purpose of holding said gripper jaws closey together; and means manually operative to move said paw1 means counter to said spring urge.

8; A' bow' trigger' mechanism comprising two pivotally mounted, separable grippers' normally held separated under spring pressure; locking4 effective to` interlock the spread-apart locking,

jaws when and' if said gripper jaws are closed;v spring means tending to urge the paw1 means into thev interlocking engagement; and means manually operative to push said paw1 means counter tolsaid spring'urge; thereby breaking said' interlock and causing the-'spring pressed grippers tofbecome separated;

ClSYDE H. KONOLD;

REFERENCES CITED' The following references are-of record inthe file of this patent:

UNITED' STATES.' PATENTS Number Name Date 228,302 Beard June 1, 1880: 229,089 Burnham' June 22, 1880' 1','5A42;'159 Maxwell June 16, 1925 2j000,015: Flury May 7, 1935 

